Randstad Workmonitor Q4 2017: Who’s responsible for employability? Positive employee outlook for 2018.

A vast majority of employees worldwide consider that staying employable is their own responsibility, according to the latest Randstad Workmonitor survey. Globally, 85% say so, whereas 81% state it's a shared responsibility between themselves, their employer and the government. From the global respondents, 80% understand that their employer will support their personal development, only if this is line with the employer's business goals.

role of government
Governments are also attributed a significant role in keeping the workforce employable: 84% of the global respondents think that governments should offer incentives (e.g., taxes, subsidies) to employers in order to help them doing so, albeit 85% think that employees should be offered these incentives if they develop professionally / learn new professional competences / stay employable. Finally, 67% think that governments should be more demanding towards the workforce to keep up their employability.

older employees
With regard to raising the State Pension age, 86% think that governments also should invest in keeping the workforce employable. And in helping older employees staying employable 74% of the global respondents think that this can only be achieved with support from employers whereas 62% believe this can only be done with help from governments.

economic and financial outlook
Overall, employees' sentiment with regard to the economic situation in their country as well as their employer's financial performance are more positive than last year. Their expectations to receive a pay rise or bonus have also increased compared to last year.

Quarterly recurring observations

Mobility Index stable at 109
With a Mobility Index score of 109, the number of employees worldwide expecting to work for a different employer in the coming six months remained stable compared to the previous three quarters. Mobility was up most in China (+9), Canada (+8), Chile (+7) and Mexico (+6). The biggest decreases in mobility are found in Norway (-7), Switzerland (-5), Australia (-4) and Spain, Hong Kong and Japan (all -3). There's no shift in mobility in Belgium, Denmark, Portugal and the UK.

Actual job change flat at 23%; again highest in Malaysia and India
Actual job change remained flat at 23% and is again highest in Malaysia and India. Compared to last quarter, the actual job change increased in Brazil, India, Singapore, Spain and Switzerland. In Chile, China, Hungary and Poland. the actual job change decreased. The actual job change is still lowest in Luxembourg (8%).

Appetite to change jobs still highest in India
Job change appetite, i.e., the desire to change jobs increased in Japan and the UK and decreased in Denmark, Hong Kong, Norway, Singapore and Switzerland compared to last quarter. The appetite to change jobs is highest in India (40%) and lowest in Portugal (17%).

Job satisfaction highest in Mexico
Compared to the previous quarter, job satisfaction increased in Chile, Greece, Malaysia and the US whereas in Hungary the job satisfaction decreased. Job satisfaction is highest in Mexico (83%) and lowest in Japan (44%).

Country data are available in the Global Report at https://www.randstad.com/workforce-insights/randstad-workmonitor/#2017

The Randstad Workmonitor
The Randstad Workmonitor was launched in the Netherlands in 2003, then in Germany, and now covers 33 countries around the world. The last country to join was Portugal in 2014. The study encompasses Europe, Asia Pacific and the Americas. The Randstad Workmonitor is published 4 times a year, making both local and global trends in mobility visible over time.

The Workmonitor's Mobility Index, which tracks employee confidence and captures the likelihood of an employee changing jobs within the next 6 months, provides a comprehensive understanding of sentiments and trends in the job market. Besides mobility, the survey addresses employee satisfaction and personal motivation as well as a rotating set of themed questions.

The study is conducted online among employees aged 18-65, working a minimum of 24 hours a week in a paid job (not self-employed). The minimum sample size is 400 interviews per country. The Survey Sampling International (SSI) panel is used for sampling purposes. The fourth survey of 2017 was conducted from October 24 - November 8, 2017.

About Randstad
The Randstad Group is a global leader in the HR services industry and specialized in solutions in the field of flexible work and human resources services. We support people and organizations in realizing their true potential. Our services range from regular temporary Staffing and permanent placements to Inhouse Services, Professionals, and HR Solutions (including Recruitment Process Outsourcing, Managed Services Programs, and outplacement). Randstad has top-three positions in Argentina, Belgium & Luxembourg, Canada, Chile, France, Germany, Greece, India, Italy, Mexico, the Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, the UK, and the United States, and major positions in Australia and Japan. At year-end 2016, Randstad had 36,524 corporate employees and 4,752 branches and Inhouse locations in 39 countries around the world. In 2016, Randstad generated revenue of € 20.7 billion. Randstad was founded in 1960 and is headquartered in Diemen, the Netherlands. Randstad Holding nv is listed on the NYSE Euronext Amsterdam, where options for stocks in Randstad are also traded. For more information, see https://www.randstad.com/